Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-31


this act required to be done, or shall
cause or willfully suffer or permit any act,
matter or thing so directed Or required
by this act to be done, not to be so done,
or shall aid Or abet any such omission or
failure, or shall be guilty of any infrac-
ton of this act, or shall aid or abet therein
shall ba deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and shall, upon conviction thereof in any
district court of the United States within
the Jurisdiction of which such offense
was committed, be subject to q fine of
not to exceed FIVE thausand dollars for
each offense.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION.
Section IL. That commission is
hereby created and established to be
known as the Interstate commerce COM
mission, which shall be com posed of five
commissioners, who shall be appointed by
the president, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate. The commission
ers first appointed under this act shall
continue in Office for the term of two,
three, four, five and six years, respective
ly, from the first day of January, Ammo
Domini eighteen hundred and eigty-seven.
the term of each to be designated by the
president; but their successors shall be
appointed for terms of six years, except
that any person chosen to fill a vacancy
shall be appointed only for the unexpired
term Of the commissioner whom he shall
succeed. Any commissioner may be re-
moved by the president for5ineficiency,
neglect of duty or melfeasance in Office
Not more than three of the commission.
ers shall be appointed from the same
political party. No person in the en-
ploy of or holding official relation to any
common carrier subject to the provisions
of this act, or owning stock or bonds
thereof, who is In any manner pecuniar
lily interested therein, shall enter upon
the duties of or hold such Office. Said
commissioners shall not engage in any
other business, vocation Or employment
No vacancy in the commission shall i'm
pair the right of the remaining commits
sioners to exercise the powers of the
commission.
POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
Sec. u. That the commission hereby
created shall have authority to inquire
into the management of the business of all
common carriers subject to the provis-
ions Of this act, and shall have the right
to obtain from such common carriers full
and complete information necessary to
enable the commission to perform the
duties and carry out the objects for which
it was created; and for the purposes of
this act the commission shall have power
to require the attendance and testimony
Of witnesses and the production of all
books, papers, tariffs, contracts, agree
ments and documents relating to any
matter under investigation, and to that
end may invoke the aid of any court of
the United States in requiring the attend
ance and testimony of witnesses and the
production of books, papers and docu-
ments under the provisions of this sec
ton. And any of the circuit courts of
the United States within the Jurisdiction
of which such inquiry is carried on may,
in case of contumacy or refusal to obey
a subpoena issued to any common carrier
subject to the provisions of this act, or
other person, issue an order requiring
such common carrier or other person to
appear before said commission land pro-
duce books and papers if so ordered) and
give evidence touching the matter in
question; and any failure to obey such
order of the court may be punished by
such court as contempt thereof. The
claim that any such testimony or evidence
may tend to criminate the persen giving
such evidence shall not excuse such wit
ness from testifying: but such evidence
Or testimony shall not be used against
such person on the trial of any criminal
proceeding.
COMPLAINTS TO COMMISSION.
Sec. ID. That any person, firm, corpo-
ration, or any mercantile, agricultural, or
manufacturing society, or any body poll
tic or municipal organization complain
ing of anything done or omitted to be
done by any common carrier subject to
the provisions of this act in contraven
ton of the provisions thereof, may apply
to said commission by petition, which
shall briefly state tire facts; whereupon a
statement of the charges thus made shall
be forwarded by the commission to such
common carrier, who shall be called upon
to satisfy the complaint or to answer the
same in writing within a reasonable time,
to be specified by the commission. If
such common carrier, within the time
specified, shall make reparation for the
injury alleged to have been done, said
carrier shall be relieved of liability to the
complaint only for the particular viola
ton of law thus complained of. If such
carrier shall not satisfy the complaint
within the time specified, or there shall
appear to be any reasonable ground for
investigating said complaint, it shall be
the duty of the commission to investigate
the matters complained of in such man
ner and by such rneans as it shall deem
proper.
INVESTIGATION BY COMMISSION.
Said commission shall in like manner
investigate any complaint forwarded by
the railroad commissioner or railroad
commission of any state or territory, at
the request of such commissioner or com
and may institute any inquiry on
its own motion in the same manner and
to the same effect as though complaint
had been made. No complaint shall at
any time be dismissed because of the alb
sence of direct damage to the com plain
ant.
FINDINGS OF COMMISSION PRIMA FAoIE EvI-
DENCE.
Sec. IA. That whenever an investiga-
ton shall be made by said commission, it
shall be its duty to make report in wri-
ting IN respect thereto, which shall include
the findings of fact upon which the con-
illusions of the commission are based, to.
gether with its recommendation as to
what reparation, if any, should be made
by the common carrier to any party or